Recently I was given an opportunity to do something that would completely change my life. It was an incredible offer that was full of all kinds of good stuff. But it was also an opportunity that stopped me in my tracks and had me immediately gasping for air. The simple thought of this opportunity would turn my stomach into knots.
Day by day as I pondered the pros and cons, the lifestyle changes, the money and all the rest of the variables, I found myself becoming incredibly stressed. Which also leads to me becoming increasingly stern faced. You know that face you get when you become intensely focused on something and you have no idea what’s going on around you, all you are doing is running laps inside your head thinking and thinking and overthinking YOUR specific situation. It’s an absolute never ending relay race of frustration!
About half way through the decision making process, I came across a method that seemed to temper my stressed out madness. It’s simple, because that’s who I am, but it worked. So here‘s the method, I hope it works for you!
Get Outside
Every night I try to get outside and walk one lap around the park behind my house. I don’t bring any headphones, no cell phone, nobody can come with me, it’s just me and God. Which leads me to number 2.
Get Alone
You would think that this time would push me to be in my head more, but what I have found is quite the contrary. The more I walk and talk with God the more I make it to my heart and when I got into my heart, my gut, my true emotions, the more the stress of life seems to slip away. Which leads me to number 3.
Get In Your Heart
My walks have become conversations with God. Peaceful times with just me and Him. I talk, sometimes to myself, sometimes out loud and I then I listen as God talks back. Not audibly, but much louder! He talks to my soul and it’s amazing. During these talks I try my best to get gut level honest with God. Which leads me to number 4.
Get Honest
Now God already knows everything, so it’s not like I am telling him earth shattering secrets, but there is something about getting honest that seems to lighten my load. I feel brighter, I feel free, I feel peaceful and at one with God. The more I confess, the less I feel stressed! So I try to talk with God in a way that’s different then my prayers, I hate to say it buts it feels more real. Which leads me to number 5.
Get Real
The more real I am with God the more real He seems to me. So as I walk, outside, alone, and share my heart, honestly the more attune I feel with my Creator. I think about the situation that’s in front of me and ask God…
“Do you care about this?
“Is this something worth becoming unhealthy for?”
“Are you for this or against it?
“Is there someone who can help me understand the situation better? If so who?”
“Am I wasting time?”
“Am I missing the big picture?”
“What’s the point?”
These questions help to slap me back to the reality that although my situation might be too much for me to handle, it’s certainly not too much for God to handle.
What’s cool about my walks with God are that my situation hasn’t changed, but my stress level has. Each night God has helped me to see new and different aspects of my life, and pushed me to a deeper reliance on Him. Which in the end is the best place to find yourself. Completely safe, protected and loved in the arms of the Father.
If you are finding yourself in a stressful position, try these 5 steps and see if they help. And always remember this quote from my good friend Doug Hayes:
“We are too blessed to be stressed!”
-Hope is Alive
